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The American YouTuber known as Johnny Somali takes questions from the press outside the Seoul Western District Court on April 15, 2026, as he arrives for his final trial on disorderly conduct and other charges. (Yonhap)

The American YouTuber known as Johnny Somali has been sentenced to six months in Korean prison. The online provocateur had prompted outrage in Korea for filming himself kissing a memorial to victims of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery.

Judge Park Ji-won of the Seoul Western District Court sentenced the YouTuber, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismail, to six months in prison and 20 days in detention on Wednesday and ordered him to be taken into custody immediately. 

Somali had been indicted on charges of obstruction of business, public disorder, and distributing doctored videos under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.
 
The court also ordered that Somali be banned from employment at companies that serve minors and people with disabilities.

“The defendant willfully and repeatedly violated Korean law by committing criminal acts against multiple individuals at random and broadcasting such behavior online. In assessing this matter, consideration was given to the risk that such behavior may encourage or result in similar offenses in the future,” said Park while explaining the sentence for Somali. 
 
On the charges of distributing doctored videos, the court found Somali guilty, stating, “From the viewpoint of the average layperson, the videos were edited and altered to evoke sexual humiliation.”
 
Somali was indicted for obstructing businesses by purposefully interfering with people riding rides at Lotte World in Seoul’s Songpa District in September 2024 and blaring loud music while spilling instant noodles on the table of a convenience store in Mapo District in October of the same year.
 
Additional charges were brought up against him during the trial, including repeatedly disturbing the public order, such as on the streets and on public transportation, as well as producing and distributing obscene deepfake videos that featured digitally manipulated faces of men and women.
 
The prosecution sought a three-year prison sentence and a fine of 150,000 won for Somali at the final hearing of his trial on Feb. 27.  
 
During the presentence hearing, which decided on whether he would be officially detained, Somali reportedly expressed a desire to return to his family in his home country. He also reportedly acknowledged that he must take responsibility for his actions, but also asked to be given a chance to turn a new leaf. 

Somali reportedly claimed that he did not pose a risk of repeated behavior disturbing others due to restrictions placed on him throughout the court proceedings. The bench rejected this and ordered him to be taken into custody immediately, stating that he posed a flight risk.  

By Park Go-eun, staff reporter

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